How to download Android 11 Developer Preview for Google Pixel and other Android devices

Google has officially kicked off the Android 11 Developer Preview program, just five months after the stable release of Android 10. They’re starting things a little earlier this year (the first Android Q beta dropped in March). If you’re curious about the next version of Android, you can download Android 11 right now for the Pixel 2, Pixel 2 XL, Pixel 3, Pixel 3 XL, Pixel 3a, Pixel 3a XL, Pixel 4, and Pixel 4 XL (the original Google Pixel and Pixel XL are not officially supported).

This page will serve as an archive for all the Android 11 developer preview/beta releases. We will keep the page updated with the latest OTAs and factory images for supported devices. You can learn how to install the Android 11 developer preview with our guide for Pixel devices here.

Android 11 Developer Preview 1

Device	OTA	Factory Image
Pixel 2	Link	Link
Pixel 2 XL	Link	Link
Pixel 3	Link	Link
Pixel 3 XL	Link	Link
Pixel 3a	Link	Link
Pixel 3a XL	Link	Link
Pixel 4	Link	Link
Pixel 4 XL	Link	Link

GSI Downloads

ARM64+GMS	Link
x86+GMS	Link

Android 11 Developer Preview 2

Device	OTA	Factory Image
Pixel 2	Link	Link
Pixel 2 XL	Link	Link
Pixel 3	Link	Link
Pixel 3 XL	Link	Link
Pixel 3a	Link	Link
Pixel 3a XL	Link	Link
Pixel 4	Link	Link
Pixel 4 XL	Link	Link

GSI Downloads

ARM64+GMS	Link
x86+GMS	Link

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Android 11 Developer Preview 2 adds Variable Refresh Rate support, Resume on Reboot, more

Although the spread of the COVID-19 disease caused by SARS-CoV-2 has slowed down the global economy, many tech companies have transitioned their employees to work from home (WFH). Google is one such company, and today, they acknowledged the difficulties facing many of us around the world. Today, the company announced a new Developer Preview of the next major Android OS: Android 11. Android 11 Developer Preview 2, like the first Developer Preview, is still intended only for developers, and the list of changes mentioned in the blog post focus on new APIs and platform behavior changes that developers will have to adapt to. Here’s what’s new.

New Android 11 API Changes

• 5G state API: In Android 11 Developer Preview 2, developers can check if the user is on a 5G New Radio (NR) or Non-Standalone (NSA) network. If you aren’t familiar, 5G on NSA networks means the 5G network is piggybacking off of existing 4G infrastructure, whereas with 5G on NR networks, the network is independent. 5G on NR will generally be much faster, though its current availability is very limited. You can check for this status to change how your app behaves under the inferior or superior network connection.
• Hinge angle for foldables: Foldable devices like the upcoming Microsoft Surface Duo, the Motorola Razr, the Samsung Galaxy Fold/Z Flip, and the Huawei Mate X/Xs usually have more than just two states. Most of the time, they’re either folded or fully unfolded, but occasionally, users will place them at an angle. Android 11 Developer Preview 2 has added support for a hinge angle sensor that lets apps query the hinge angle either directly or through an AndroidX library.
• Call screening service improvements: Call screening apps can now report a call rejection reason to inform users why the service rejected an incoming call. In addition, call screening apps can also see if an incoming call was from a number that’s in the user’s contacts, provided, of course, that the call screening app has permission to read contacts. Finally, call screening apps can now customize a post call screen dialog, that’s provided by the system, to let users perform actions like mark the call as spam or add the number to their contacts.
• Updates to Neural Networks API: Google has added a “computationally efficient version” of a swish activation function (warning: PDF link) that allows for “faster training time and higher accuracy across a wide variety of tasks.” Another addition is the Control ops “enabling more advanced machine learning models that support branching and loops.” Lastly, Google has added “new execution controls” to minimize latency for common use cases.

Privacy and Security

• In Android 11, apps that want to access the camera or microphone data from a foreground service must declare the manifest attribute foregroundServiceType.
• Scoped storage has been updated in this new preview release. Now developers can migrate files “from the legacy model to the new scoped storage model.” Also added is “better management of cached files.”

Polish and quality

• Synchronized IME transitions: New APIs have been added to allow developers to synchronize their app’s content with the input method editor, or IME, and system bars as they animate. This allows for you to create IME transitions that are much more fluid than before. The new insets animation listener allows one to create “frame-perfect transitions” as it notifies apps of per-frame changes to insets. The new WindowInsetsAnimationController API lets apps take control of the IME and system bar transitions, on the other hand. In the example shown to the bottom right, the app is using the WindowInsetsAnimationController API to control the IME transition upon overscrolling the app’s UI.
  
• Variable refresh rate: There are now dozens of Android devices with high refresh rate displays, such as 90Hz, 120Hz, or 144Hz. In Android 11, apps and games can now set their preferred frame rate for their own windows. The system will use the app’s preferred frame rate to choose the display refresh rate when running the app.
• Resume on reboot: As we highlighted before, Android 11 improves the experience of overnight OTA updates. After a reboot, apps can access the Credential Encrypted (CE) storage without the user unlocking the device. Thus, apps can resume normal functionality after an OTA when the user isn’t around to unlock the phone.
• Camera support in Android Emulator: The Android Emulator in Android Studio now supports front and rear emulated cameras. The back camera supports HW Level 3 in Camera2 API, while the front camera supports the FULL level with logical camera support.

Get Started

There will be one more Developer Preview in April followed by 2 beta releases. The stable Android 11 release will be made available sometime in Q3 of 2020, if all goes to plan.

To install Android 11 Developer Preview 2 on a Pixel device, you must have a Pixel 2, Pixel 2 XL, Pixel 3, Pixel 3 XL, Pixel 3a, Pixel 3a XL, Pixel 4, or Pixel 4 XL. You can either manually flash the preview build or you can use the Android Flash Tool to do it for you. If you don’t own a Pixel device, you may be able to install the latest Developer Preview through the Generic System Image (GSI) on Project Treble-compatible devices, which includes devices that launched with Android 9 Pie or later. Your mileage may vary, though. Lastly, you can boot up the latest build in the Android Emulator in Android Studio. Each of these methods provides you a way to test your apps in the new environment. Be sure to thoroughly test your app because Google will eventually make targeting Android 11 a requirement for your apps’ inclusion into the Google Play Store.

Try out the latest version and give Google feedback if you encounter any problems.

Android 11 News on XDA

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Google’s Advanced Protection program now blocks sideloading non-Play Store apps

Google’s Advanced Protection program is the company’s strongest security for “those who need it most.” This program can safeguard personal or business Google accounts of anyone at risk of targeted attacks, like political campaigns, journalists, business leaders, etc. While it’s not something most people need, it is available to anyone. Today, Google announced some new features for the program.

For starters, Play Protect will now be enabled by default for anyone registered in the Advanced Protection program. For those unaware, Play Protect is Google’s built-in malware protection for Android. It scans billions of apps every day with Google’s machine learning algorithms to keep devices safe. Play Protect is already enabled on most devices, but this ensures it is for those requesting extra protection.

Next, Google will be blocking the majority of sideloaded apps for those enrolled in the Advanced Protection program. It’s much harder for Google to ensure the safety of users if they are installing apps from untrusted sources. The one exception to this will be apps installed from app stores that are pre-installed on the device by the manufacturer through the Android Debug Bridge. Existing apps on your device from outside the Play Store will not be removed.

These changes will not be applied to G Suite users, but there are equivalent protections in place through Endpoint Management. For everyone else enrolled in the Advanced Protection program, the new features will begin rolling out today.  New malware protection for Chrome is coming later this year as well. You can join the Advanced Protection program here.

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Source: Google

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Learn Ethical Hacking, Data Security and More for Under $40

Cybersecurity is one of the most sought-after skills that employers are looking for right now. A recent report by research company Cybersecurity Ventures estimates there will be 3.5 million unfilled cybersecurity jobs in 2021. If you want to take advantage of this opportunity, The A-Z Cybersecurity Developer Bundle is a great place to start your journey. It provides 170 hours of training, working towards top professional exams. You can get the bundle now for just $39.99 at the XDA Developers Depot.

With such a huge shortfall in expertise, many companies are willing to pay good money for new talent. In fact, the average salary in this sector is $89k according to Payscale.

With 10 courses from top tutors, the A-Z bundle helps you dive into this lucrative niche. Through concise video tutorials, you learn the fundamentals of ethical hacking, penetration testing, information security, data security, and more. These skills are valuable in any technical role.

The training also provides extensive prep for multiple exams. This includes CompTIA PenTest+, Security+, and CySA+, along with CISM, CISA, and CISSP. You can learn at your own pace, and the courses cover everything you need to know.

It’s worth $999, but you can get the training now for $39.99 with lifetime access included.

 

The A-Z Cybersecurity Developer Bundle – $39.99

See Deal

Prices subject to change

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Google Hangouts update on Android removes location sharing

Google released Hangouts way back in 2013 and the service soon became a favorite among Android users. The app featured SMS integration, which was one of its more popular features as it allowed users to have all their messages in one app. Sadly though, despite its popularity Hangouts was sidelined in favor of Allo and was split into two products for G Suite users: Meet and Chat. Funnily enough, Allo also met an untimely demise in 2018 and was replaced by Android Messages. Despite being shelved by Google, Hangouts still enjoyed the favor of many users until reports revealed that the service would finally be shut down in 2020. While Google denied these claims at the time, a recent report from ArsTechnica claims that Google has removed location sharing from Hangouts which leads us to believe that the service may, after all, be shut down soon.

As per the report, Hangouts for Android version 32 doesn’t include the location button anymore and users can no longer share their location with one another. It isn’t exactly clear why the company has stripped away such an essential feature, but Hangouts users will now have to depend on real-time location sharing via Google Maps if they wish to share their location with others. It’s worth noting that earlier this year, we learned that Google is working on a messaging app for G Suite users that combines Gmail, Hangouts Meet/Chat, and Drive. While Hangouts’ future is uncertain as of now, the lack of support and removal of essential features clearly indicates that Google wants to shut it down. However, due to the fact that Hangouts is so deeply integrated into the ecosystem and has a user base dating back 15 years, killing the service seems to be a complicated process for Google.

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Via: ArsTechnica

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Realme 6i launches with MediaTek Helio G80, quad cameras, and 5000mAh battery

Just a couple of weeks after the launch of the Realme 6 series, the company has now launched the Realme 6i. The device, which was previously spotted in an FCC filing, packs in MediaTek’s Helio G80 chipset, coupled with a quad-camera setup and a massive 5,000mAh battery. A direct successor to the Realme 5i from earlier this year, the Realme 6i features a similar design with a few hardware upgrades. As per a recent report from Android Central, the Realme 6i is the world’s first smartphone to feature the MediaTek Helio G80 SoC.

Realme 6i Specifications

Display	6.5-inch HD+ with waterdrop notch, 89.8% screen-to-body ratio
SoC	MediaTek Helio G80
RAM	3GB/4GB
Storage	64GB/128GB
Battery	5,000mAh with 18W fast charging and reverse wired charging
Fingerprint Sensor	Rear-mounted fingerprint
Rear Cameras	48MP primary sensor 8MP ultra-wide sensor 2MP macro lens 2MP depth sensor
Front Camera	16MP
Android Version	Realme UI based on Android 10
Colors	White Milk, Green Tea

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Realme has packed in a 6.5-inch HD+ display on the 6i with a waterdrop-style notch which houses the 16MP selfie shooter. While the company hasn’t made any significant improvements to the display, the Realme 6i packs in an upgraded quad-camera setup with a 48MP primary camera. However, the other three cameras, which include an 8MP ultra-wide lens, a 2MP macro lens, and a 2MP depth sensor, remain the same.

Powering Realme 6i is a substantial 5,000mAh battery that supports 18W fast charging and reverse wired charging. Other key upgrades include a USB Type-C port for charging and data syncing and Realme UI based on Android 10. The device still rocks a rear-mounted capacitive fingerprint scanner, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and a dedicated microSD card slot for expansion. Realme has also introduced new color finishes for the device — White Milk and Green Tea — which feature a reflective vertical pattern.

As far as pricing and availability are concerned, the Realme 6i has been priced at KS 249,990 (~$180) in Myanmar for the 3GB/64GB version and KS 299,900 (~$215) for the 4GB/128GB version. Pre-orders for the device are scheduled to start in Myanmar tomorrow and the device will be available in-store starting from March 29. As of now, the company has released no information regarding a launch date in India, but we expect the company to announce the launch in the coming weeks.

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Via: Android Central

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Samsung Galaxy M21 with 6,000mAh battery, 20MP front camera launched in India

Samsung has a very wide portfolio of smartphones to offer across the entire smartphone price spectrum. But despite the offerings, the company does not always manage to successfully capitalize on certain segments of the market. For instance, Samsung smartphones lagged behind in the online commerce segments as they failed to keep up against the likes of Xiaomi, and now Realme. Samsung countered this with an increased focus on the online segment, and this focus has eventually evolved into the Galaxy M-series that we see right now. Today, Samsung has launched a new entrant in the M series, with the new Galaxy M21.

Samsung Galaxy M21: Specifications

Specification	Redmi K30
Dimensions and Weight	8.9mm thick 188g
Display	6.4″ FHD+ sAMOLED; Infinity-U 420nits peak brightness Gorilla Glass 3
SoC	Exynos 9611: 4x Cortex-A73 @ 2.3GHz 4x Cortex-A53 @ 1.7GHz 10nm FinFET process Mali-G72 MP3
RAM and Storage	4GB LPDDR4X + 64GB 6GB + 128GB Expandable through dedicated microSD card slot
Battery & Charging	6,000 mAh battery 15W fast charging 15W fast charger included in box
Rear Camera	Primary: 48MP Secondary: 5MP, Depth Sensor Tertiary: 8MP, Wide-Angle Camera
Front Camera	20MP
Other Features	3.5mm headphone jack Rear fingerprint scanner
Android Version	One UI based on Android 10

The Samsung Galaxy M21 succeeds the Samsung Galaxy M20 that was launched in India back in January 2019. The Galaxy M21 had already been leaked to an extent, so the device does not come across as a complete surprise.

The highlight of the phone is of course, the massive 6,000 mAh battery that easily lasts for more than 1.5days on a single charge, even under heavy use. You also get 15W fast charging capabilities, as well as a 15W charger in the box. Being a Samsung phone, the sAMOLED display will also attract users at this price point, though the phone does not come with any of the high refresh rate tricks that other devices like the Realme 6 sport.

The Galaxy M21 has a triple rear camera setup, comprising of an unspecified 48MP sensor, coupled with a wide-angle camera and a depth sensor. The front camera is a 20MP shooter, which would be appreciated by people who like to take a lot of selfies.

Pricing and Availability

The Samsung Galaxy M21 will be available in India for ₹12,999 (~$175) for the 4GB RAM and 64GB storage variant. Pricing for other variants has not been revealed yet. The phone will be available in Midnight Blue and Raven Black color options and will be available for purchase from March 23, 2020, on Amazon.in and Samsung.

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